September 2, 2016

Minor League Update

Games of Thursday, September 1st

by Mark Anderson

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Prospect of the Day:

Alberto Tirado, RHP, Phillies (Low-A Lakewood): 6 IP, H, 0 R/ER, BB, 10 K
The last time I wrote this article Tirado dominated the opposition. He did it again this week with an even better line. The hits and walks are being given up at extremely low levels right now, signaling a developmental step for a truly electric young arm. Tirado could complete his development as a quintessential power pitcher with near triple-digit heat and bat-missing secondary stuff, and starts like this one (and the one I wrote about last week) are previews of what that projection could look like at the big-league level.

Others of Note:

A.J. Puk, LHP, Athletics (Short-Season Vermont): 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, ER, BB, 6 K. It may just be that I’m not listening to or reading the right things, but I feel like Puk—a potential 1-1 candidate right up until draft day—has gone largely unnoticed since signing with Oakland. I understand the concerns, but the potential is very real and he’s done what was expected of a player his stature in the New York-Penn League.

Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves (Double-A Mississippi): 2-4, R, HR, K, SB. Our own David Lee has been even more impressed than normal with Albies of late, and any concerns over his Triple-A struggles should be considered quibbling at this point given his age and extreme success at Double-A. Albies is going to play in Atlanta next year and should be a fixture next to Dansby Swanson for a very long time.

Jordan Yamamoto, RHP, Brewers (Low-A Wisconsin): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 11 K. Signed to an over-slot deal as a 12^th round pick, Yamamoto has had his share of struggles as a pro. Coming out of a Hawaiian high school, Yamamoto currently shows an average fastball with good life and improving control, along with a strong slider and developing changeup. After being extremely hittable last season, he’s begun to mix and match more, along with showing improved location, which has allowed him to begin realizing his back-of-the-rotation potential.

Kyle Crick, RHP, Giants (Double-A Richmond): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R/ER, 2 BB, 6 K. I like Crick and I can’t quite give up on him. The inability to consistently throw strikes with any part of his arsenal, at any velocity, is an obvious concern, and for every time he seems to make progress, he then turns around and walks a batter per inning. The bullpen may still be in his future, but I really want to see Crick figure it out, even as an erratic starter with electric stuff.

Brandon Nimmo, OF, Mets (Triple-A Las Vegas): 3-4, 2 R, 2B. Nimmo’s potential value has been debated ad nauseum over the last several years, and while Las Vegas may be inflating his numbers a bit, it’s never a bad thing to see a prospect perform at a high level. He will have to continue raking when given his next big league opportunity if he wants to be more than a part-time player, but Nimmo could get there if given the proper developmental time.

Brian Jeroloman, C, Nationals (Double-A Harrisburg): 3-5, R. I once watched Jeroloman gun down an easy 80-grade runner from his knees and then listened to him tell me the ball came out of his hand “funny” and he wasn’t happy with the play after the game. His big-league chance has likely come and gone, but offensive games like this always make me wonder what could have been for a catcher with a potential plus-plus glove.

Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 5.2 IP, 3 H, R/ER, 4 BB, 8 K. This start represents everything that is good and bad—or, shall we say, in need of development—with Glasnow.

Nick Senzel, 3B, Reds (Low-A Dayton): 2-3, 2 2B, K. Senzel has been sensational since signing with the Reds and it is increasingly hard to envision a scenario—short of pure stubbornness from the Reds—where Senzel doesn’t play in Double-A at the outset of the 2017 season. He’s obviously going to move quickly, and if the Reds want, he could probably play in the big leagues next year.

Ofreidy Gomez, RHP, Royals (Rookie Burlington): 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R/ER, BB, 10 K. Still just 20 years old and not quite out of rookie ball yet, Gomez still has the same fluid arm action he showed as a 16-year-old signee, and his velocity still touches the 92-93 mph range quite easily. There’s work to do refining the rest of his arsenal, but Gomez has the clean arm action and arm strength you desire from an intriguing pitching prospect.

Kolton Mahoney, RHP, Yankees (Short-Season Staten Island): 7 IP, 5 H, R/ER, 0 BB, 8 K. I have seen Mahoney touch 95 on multiple occasions during his two seasons in the NYPL, and while the slider can help augment a straight fastball, the curveball and changeup both need work. Personally, I would like to see Mahoney in the bullpen where I believe his fastball-slider combination could play well in a middle-relief or seventh-inning role.

Mark Anderson is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @ProspectMark
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